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Jo Thornton is returning to the US as CEO for Moët Hennessy USA.  Prior to this he was Managing Director for the UK.  In this role Thornton will oversee the company’s US sales and marketing responsibilities.  He joined the company in 1993 as Sales Development Director for the UK.

The Champagne house has appointed Christophe Juarez as Managing Director.  Juarez joins from Unicoop, a co-operative based in Cognac, where he was Chief Executive, and he has also served as Managing Director of Burgundian firm Laroche Wines.  Before joining the drinks industry he worked in sales and marketing roles at... Read More

Aaron Aykanian has been named General Manager of The Vin Bin stores becoming the first GM since the company opened its doors in 2OO4.  In this position he will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the three-store, family run business.  Prior to this Aykanian was serving as both manager... Read More

The drinks company has named Denny Potter as Vice President of Operations and Master Distiller.  In addition to his current distilling responsibilities, Potter will provide strategic direction and leadership for all Heaven Hill production operations.  Previously, he was Master Distiller and Bernheim Distillery Plant Manager.  For almost 2O years, he... Read More

MARY MASTERS has been appointed Vice President and General Manager for the wholesaler.  In this role she will oversee distribution operations in Massachusetts and Connecticut and be based in the Boston office.  Masters was most recently Vice President of Classic Wine Imports and Vice President of Sales for the Martignetti... Read More

TRAVIS GIBBONS has been named Senior Director of Health Policy and Regulatory Affairs.  He brings over a decade of government and advocacy experience to the Beer Institute, most recently as the Director of Federal Affairs for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.

CHRIS PEDDY has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer.  In this position he will oversee Jägermeister’s new brand identity launch as well as all aspects of the US marketing platforms, strategy and innovation, digital marketing, customer marketing and public relations.  Peddy was initially hired by Mast-Jägermeister US (formally known as Sidney... Read More

HUGUES PIETRINI has been hired as Global Chief Executive Officer for the division responsible for the production, management and distribution of the Group’s global spirits portfolio.  Most recently Pietrini was the Executive Vice President of Distribution at Moët Hennessy, where he led the Ruinart, Krug, Glenmorangie and Belvedere brand houses. ... Read More

LOU CONRAD has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales.  He replaces BILL CORBETT, who has stepped back from his SVP responsibilities as he moves toward retirement in September, 2O18.  Corbett has been with the drinks company for 32 years.  He’ll continue to work closely with the management team... Read More

RICHARD ELIA 1941-2O17 Wine Publisher, Professor of English Richard L. Elia, best known to some of us as publisher and, with Randy Sheahan, co-editor of The Quarterly Review of Wines, died on February 23 after a several-month illness.  He and his wife of 47 years, Harley MacKenzie, had long resided... Read More